Jenna Talackova, transsexual Miss Universe Canada contestant,

International outrage is growing over the disqualification of transsexual model Jenna Talackova from the finals of Miss Universe Canada.

With blond locks, long legs and delicate features, Talackova was a strong competitor in pageant but was disqualified, she says, because she used to be male, even though she made it to the finals of the contest.

The story has now flared through the British, U.S. and Canadian media in recent days, sparking online protests.

“This is discriminatory, unjust, and quite frankly disgusting,” said Oscar Dimant of Brooklyn, New York, listed as the author of the online petition at change.org.

“She is a woman and deserves to be treated as any other woman would be.”

The 23-year-old transgender model from Vancouver has accused the pageant of discrimination, and more than 30,000 supporters have now signed an online petition demanding her reinstatement.

One petition signator argued that Talackova is legally and physically a woman.

“Her being trans represents that it was harder for her than most to get where she is today, and that make her the perfect Miss Universe contestant,” said the signator.

The organizers of the Canada Miss Universe pageant said on their website on Friday that Talackova was disqualified because “she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form,” without providing further details.

Talackova’s profile was visible on the official contestants page of Miss Universe Canada as late as last week.

“Now, her profile has disappeared without a trace. Is it a coincidence that she was their only transsexual finalist?”

The Beauties of Canada Organization, which organizes the pageant, says it has the exclusive right to send a contestant to the Miss Universe Pageant, a joint production of U.S. real-estate magnate Donald Trump and NBC Universal.

Talackova, who was selected among some 65 finalists for the 2012 competition, believes she was disqualified because of her sex change.

“I will look to turn this situation into a positive so that other people in a similar situation are not discriminated against in the future,” she said.

Despite being born with male genitals, Talackova said in a 2010 interview that she knew she was a woman from a young age, began hormone therapy at 14, and had surgery to change her gender when she was 19.

“I regard myself as a woman with a history,” she tells the host in the video.

The interview, on the sidelines of the 2010 Miss International Queen transgender pageant, can be found on this YouTube video.